Method for molding thin gel slabs horizontally with integrally molded large volume sample wells

Abstract

A method is disclosed for molding thin gel slabs horizontally having deep, large volume sample wells molded integrally and in communication with the thin gel slab. The disclosure includes a method for molding at least two contiguous thin gel slabs horizontally.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of molding an electrophoretic gel slab communicating with at least one sample well where the mold includes a first pair of spaced, horizontally disposed mold plates defining a first gel mold, a first one of said horizontally disposed plates being formed with a generally vertical through slot defining a second pair of spaced mold plates creating a second gel mold communicating with said first gel mold comprising the steps of: introducing sufficient gel material into both molds to mold intersecting first and second gel slabs,   thereafter inserting a core into said second gel slab so that said core intersects said first gel slab,   permitting the gel material to set, and   thereafter removing the core so as to create a sample well in said second gel mold communicating with said first gel slab and bounded on at least two opposed sides by said gel material.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1 wherein the spacing of the first pair of mold plates defines the thickness of said first gel slab. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1 wherein the spacing of the second pair of mold plates defines the thickness of said second gel slab. 
     
     
       4. The method of claim 1 wherein the thickness of said first one of said horizontal plates, the spacing of said second pair of mold plates and the cross-sectional area of said core are each a function of the volume of said sample well. 
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1 wherein the core is advanced into the gel slab until the core bottoms on a second one of said horizontal mold plates whereby the sample well is bounded on a third side by a first plate of said second pair of mold plates and on a fourth side by a second plate of said second pair of mold plates and a portion of said first gel slab. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 2 wherein the first pair of mold plates are spaced a distance ranging from 0.10 mm to 3.00 mm. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 4 wherein the volume of the sample in said second gel slab is 5 to 100 times the volume of a sample well of equivalent cross-sectional area confined to the first gel slab. 
     
     
       8. The method of claim 1 wherein the core is formed with a plurality of tines thereby creating a plurality of sample wells. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 1 wherein a third gel slab is molded, after the first gel slab is set, in a third gel mold contiguous with said first gel mold, said first gel slab, in its set condition, defining a part of the third gel mold. 
     
     
       10. The method of claim 9 wherein a generally vertical gel slab is molded so as to intersect one of said first and third gel slabs.